Who painted Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts?

Lambert Jacobsz painted Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts in 1628.

What Bible passage does Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts depict?

Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts depicts the biblical scene from 2 Kings 5.

Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts by Lambert Jacobsz

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Lambert Jacobsz’s Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts* depicts a moment from the Old Testament story of Naaman, the esteemed Syrian army commander, and the prophet Elisha, who cures him of leprosy. In gratitude, Naaman approaches Elisha wearing a richly adorned turban and turquoise kaftan, offering lavish gifts—including a purple cloak. But Elisha, his hand resting on an open Bible, declines the offerings, insisting that it was God, not he, who performed the healing (2 Kings 5:1–16).

Jacobsz renders the scene with restraint. Naaman is centrally placed and slightly larger in scale, dressed in brilliant colors that underscore his status. Elisha, by contrast, appears as a modest, aging figure in a simple brown robe. Jacobsz focuses on their facial expressions—particularly Naaman’s, capturing his moment of reflection as he begins to understand that “there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”

Among the onlookers are Naaman’s attendants and Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, seen at the far right. As the biblical story continues, Gehazi secretly follows Naaman after his departure and deceitfully accepts the gifts intended for Elisha. When Elisha learns of the deception, Gehazi is punished with the same disease that Naaman had been cured of (2 Kings 5:17–27).

This subject was rarely painted by Dutch artists in the 17th century, though Jacobsz’s teacher, Jan Pynas, and his contemporary Pieter de Grebber created similar scenes. De Grebber’s 1637 version, made for the Haarlem Leprozenhuis* (Leper Asylum), shares compositional elements with Jacobsz’s work, such as the half-length, richly dressed figures, though the two differ significantly in tone and interpretation.

Jacobsz himself returned to the Naaman narrative at least six times during the late 1620s and 1630s, painting both small- and large-figure versions. An earlier composition, known only from a black-and-white photo, closely mirrors Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts* in key aspects, such as the prophet’s gesture and Gehazi’s placement. However, the earlier work depicts a moment just before the one in the Leiden Collection painting and lacks its spiritual depth.

While Jacobsz often produced small-figure history scenes throughout his career, his large-figure works—including Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts*—were created during a brief period when Jacob Backer, his main assistant, worked in his Leeuwarden studio (c. 1628–1633). Both artists were Mennonites and had trained with Jan Pynas. Their collaboration was so close that their paintings from this period are often difficult to distinguish. For example, The Tribute Money* in Stockholm, once attributed to Jacobsz, is now considered a work by Backer.

Jacobsz painted Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts* during this collaborative period, along with two other large-figure depictions of Elisha Rebuking Gehazi* (now in Kingston and Hannover), where the prophet is shown reprimanding his servant. In all three paintings, Jacobsz emphasizes the moral and spiritual weight of the moment over dramatic action.

The painting was initially attributed to Pieter de Grebber when it surfaced in 2005, but Albert Blankert later reassigned it to Jacobsz, noting similarities in style and composition with authenticated works like The Disobedient Prophet* (Stockholm). The frontal pairing of Elisha and Naaman in the Leiden Collection painting closely parallels Jacobsz’s treatment of Elisha and Gehazi in the Hannover canvas.

The original patron of the painting remains unknown. While it may have been created for an institution like the Leprozenhuis* in Leeuwarden—similar to commissions by De Grebber and Ferdinand Bol—it seems unlikely, as the painting emphasizes Naaman’s spiritual conversion rather than his physical healing or Elisha’s refusal of reward.

This focus aligns with Jacobsz’s own Mennonite beliefs. As a devout teacher and biblical scholar, Jacobsz viewed faith as a personal, conscious decision. His portrayal of Naaman’s conversion echoes the Mennonite conviction that one becomes a believer through understanding and acceptance, not birthright. In Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts*, Jacobsz merges artistry and theology, presenting a visually restrained yet spiritually powerful narrative of transformation.

Details

Artist: Lambert Jacobsz
Created: c. 1628 - 1633
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimension: 162cm × 112cm
Passage: 2 Kings 5

Found in: 2 Kings, 2 Kings 5, 17th century

2 Kings 5

1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”

4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, “The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this.”

5 The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”

7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”

8 It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”

11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’

12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

16 But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh.

18 In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”

19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”

22 He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”

23 Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.” He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him.

24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”

26 He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?

27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

2 Kings 5 · World English Bible

The artist

Lambert Jacobsz

1598 - 1636

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Lambert Jacobsz (also known as Lambert Jacobsz. or Lambert Jacobszoon*, 1598 – 27 June 1636) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and Mennonite preacher, known primarily for his figure paintings.